2013 Whitecaps FC Boys Showcase Wrap-up

This past weekend, Surrey’s Newton Athletic Park was the site for the annual Whitecaps FC Boys Showcase presented by Sport Chek. Whitecaps FC welcomed some of the best boys soccer talent in British Columbia and Canada at an event that drew over 60 top teams from across the country.

“This showcase continues to be a great opportunity for us to welcome top club teams from across the country, as well as all the best local talent and teams from the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) – the high performance league established with our development partner BC Soccer,” said Whitecaps FC director of soccer development Dan Lenarduzzi. “In addition, this year we added in the ability for more teams to play in our inaugural Championship division, as well as the inclusion of our regional Academy Centre teams.

"These showcase tournaments are another example of the great working relationship we have with our stakeholder partner BC Soccer, our development league partner the BCSPL, and the many other community club partners involved. Thanks goes out to all those involved in making the program a success.”

Participation was at capacity as the best club teams from across the country, including a Premier division that featured teams such as Alberta sides Calgary SWC, Edmonton SWC and Edmonton Juventus 97s, and Quebec side ACP Lions. All eight EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) teams also joined in the tournament to produce some memorable moments and matches for the many college and university scouts, and Whitecaps FC staff on hand at the event.

The weekend provided an excellent one-stop scouting opportunity for coaches and scouts from universities, colleges, and Whitecaps FC's Residency program.

The event kicked off on Friday with a full day of EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League matches featuring some of the top clubs in the province. The highlight of Friday’s matches was a clash of the unbeatens, as Mountain United U-13 faced Coastal FC U-13 in a match that ended Coastal FC’s unbeaten season. Mountain United defeated Coastal FC 1-0 in a close afternoon affair at Newton Athletic Park.

In addition to the many top club teams, the 'Caps hosted several of the new Whitecaps FC Academy Centre teams from Saskatchewan, Vancouver Island and the Kootenays.

The weekend also included Whitecaps FC U-18 and U-16 Residency teams playing feature games against rivals Seattle Sounders FC Academy. The U-18s won their match 1-0, with midfielder Yassin Essa netting the lone goal of the match. Unfortunately, the U-16s were not as lucky, as they fell 3-1 to their cross-border rivals. Striker Jordan Haynes had the only Whitecaps FC goal of the match.

Already, more than a dozen boys have moved from the BCSPL into the ‘Caps Residency program, and more than 15 girls into the Girls Elite program. In addition, many of the participating athletes have picked up scholarships after participating in the annual showcase.

This coming weekend, on April 6 and 7, the 'Caps are hosting the Whitecaps FC Cup presented by Danone at South Surrey Athletic Park. The tournament will provide young players in the U-9 to U-12 age group the opportunity to play in front of Whitecaps FC staff coaches. At the tournament, members of Whitecaps FC's coaching staff will be selecting players for the Danone Nations Cup Provincial Camp. Be sure to come to South Surrey Athletic Park this weekend for some great youth soccer.